Washing-machine



(No Model.)

J; H. lVAN De vvAT-z.` Washing Machine'.

Patented July 2o, 1880.

Y Tilhvrrnl) STATES "PATENT Fries..

JAMES H. VAN DE WATER, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letterslaatent NO. 230,367, dted'J-'Llly 20, 1880.

Application 1edJnne2, 1880. (No model.) l

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMEs HENRY VAN DE' WATER, a citizeirbf the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Gayuga and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

Myinvention relates to improvementsin that class of washing-machines-in which the clothes are washed by a pounding action and in which the poundingdevice is clamped to a wash-tub; and the objects of my improvements are to provide a more effective and durable connection of the pounding device with the tub-clamping standard, and to provide for a more effective action of the pounder, in connection with the action of the air upon the-clothes. 1

These objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents aview, in perspective, of the entire machine 5 Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a bottom View of the pounder 5 Fig. 4, a horizontal section of the pounder on the line x a; of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a detail sectional view of the yielding-face part of the cup, showing its slotted connection with the center tube of the cup.

lThe pounding device is carried by a standard, a, which is clamped to the side of the tub, being forl that purpose provided with spreading hook-feet b and a clampingbutton, c, secured in a slot, d, in said standard and adapted to be clamped over the top of the tubby a thumb-screw. The standard terminates in a bifurcated davit-head, c', 'which forms the bearings c e for a short shaft, on which an eccentric, f, operates between the davit-arms to give the proper action to the pounder by a strap-connection, g, therewith. A suitable distance above the tub, and between it and the davit-head, the standard is provided with a guide-box, h, formed upon a'horizontal arm, lt, to receive and support a Vertical tube, i, which carries the pounding-head. This tube is united to the eccentric strap-connection gby means of a rod, j, which, extending into the tube t', is jointed to the lower end of the eccentric-strap connection by a pin, and it is by this construction that the pounder can be adjusted to the quantity of clothes in the tub by adjusting the rod j into or out of the tube i, and clamping the two firmly together by the screw 7c, at the top of said tube and above the guide-box.

By this constructionthe davit-head gives a rm support for the eccentric, the operation of which is effected bythe crank-handle l on its shaft, whileI the long` bearing of the box 7i supports and guides the tubular connection of the pounding-head with the eccentric, and it is by reason of these two supports upon a single clamping-standard that compactness and durability of the operating parts are obtained, in connection with the adjustable rod in the tube above the guide-box, for varying the throw of the pounder accordingto the quantityof clothes in the tub. The action of the eccentricgives a regular pressing and liftingmovement to the pounder and avoids the splashing incident to hand-pounding, the action of a crank, or of a sudden descent of the pounder by a spring.

The pounder consists of two parts, an outer one, partly conical and partly cylindrical, and forming the air-compressing cup, and an inner part, forming the poundin gfface ,and both these parts are carried by the tube i, and upon which the pounding-face has an independent reciprocating movement. The outer-cup part, m, has a perforated partition, m', which forms a conical-top air-chamber, m2, and a cylindrical bottom chamber, m3, within which'the pounding-face part a operates. of a perforated disk with a rising curb or hoop, i, by which it forms aclose joining with the inner wall of the cylindrical part of the cup.

From the disk rise four or more tubes, s, which, passing through the perforations in the partition m', terminate with their open ends in the conical chamber m2, whilel the outer ends.

of these tubes open into hollow ribs t, secured to and crossing the outer side ofthe face part a, and which, besides beingopen at theirouter ends, are provided with perforations t', the purpose of which is to allow the compressed air to escape from the conical chamber and pass down through said tubes and out of the hollow ribs into the clothes when the pounder is forced down and the ribbed part is forced, by the resistance of thev clothes, up into the cylindrical chamber. This ribbed face part a This part n consists has a central sleeve, u., which fits upon the lower end of the central tube, t', and a slot, u', in said sleeve limits, by means of a pin, c, the reciprocating movement of the ribbed face part n under the action of the pounder.

The air-conducting tubes are provided with surrounding coiled springs w, which, pressing upon the partition m of the cup and upon the ribbed face part, .force out the latter upon the upstroke of the pounder. The face part also has perforations u between the ribs, which open directly within the bottom chamber, m3, and the tubes, opening into the upper chamber, serve to distribute the air under force evenly into the clothes at the surface, which acts directly upon them.

As the action of the ribs by their inclined sides is to press the clothes in gutters, the air spurting out from the perforations in the beveled sides of the ribs gives a good effect in cleaning the clothes uniformly, the air being forced out of the top chamber into and out of the ribs by the action of the pounder upon the clothes. The pounderis of a diameter to nearly fill the tub, and by the adjustment of the connecting-rod Within the tube 'i the pounder can be set to give more or less pressure upon the clothes and to work the same upon varying quantities of clothes, washing them evenly and thoroughly by pressure, suction, and air action.

I may use the washer in a boiler by a handle when the clothes are put to boiling. y

I claim- 1. The combination, in a Washing-machine, of the tub-clamping standard having a bifur- 3 5 cated davit-head, a', and a guide-box, h, with the operating eccentric pounder with a crankhandle andinounted upon the forks of the davit, and the pounding-cup, the tube i whereof is supported in said guide-box at a point below the connection of the eccentric-strap with the said pounder-tube, substantially as herein s et forth.

2. The combination ofthe pounding-face part u, having the hollow perforated ribs t, the hoop or curb r, and the vertical tubes s, with the cup part m, having the upper and lower chambers, m2 m, and the springs w, said tubes communicating with the upper chamber and with the hollow perforated face-ribs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. i

JAMES HENRY VAN DE WATER.

Witnesses:

B. F. SALIsBURY, JOHN P. CLARK. 

